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Reactions to the Drama Desk Nominations

I think you all need to calm down about the Drama Desk nominations.

First of all, I think they're mostly fair (other than a few glaring omissions) and they represent the kind of season 2017-2018 has been; overall it was a weak one but the strongest work has been done off-Broadway. People overreact because they're so Broadway-oriented, and need to realize that the nominating committee sees about 280 shows a season, performed all over the city. Theater does not only exist between 41st and 54th streets in midtown Manhattan.

Here are some reactions I had to the nominations:
  • The Outstanding Play category is amazing, and good for the committee for only nominating off-Broadway work but I would've nominated Harry Potter and the Cursed Child over Miles for Mary or Admissions. But finally some love for Mary Jane.
  • Outstanding Musical is kind of ridiculous, and I suspect the snobbery around Spongebob Squarepants will make it an easy victory for Mean Girls, which is the weaker of the two shows.
  • I am not sure how I feel about James McArdle being considered lead but I am glad he was nominated. You can argue Louis is a lead in Angels in America, it's just historically he's never been. I think it's McArdle's tremendous performance that makes Louis seem bigger than ever before. That being said, Michael Urie should be in there over Andrew Garfield (I know, I'm alone there) and Paul Sparks. (Actually, the lack of Torch Song love is baffling. Hindle Wakes, really?)
  • The Outstanding Actress in a Play category is amazing, and yet, the weakest performance there will win.
  • So glad someone finally nominated Jelani Alladin! 
  • I can't believe LaChanze and Jessie Mueller both got in over Lauren Ambrose. One is doing glorified karaoke, the other barely registered.
  • Not nominating Denise Gough in Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play is just awful, there's no excuse for it but I'd like to see Jamie Brewer win this one. 
  • My girl Ashley Park got not one but TWO nominations.
  • I didn't love the show but I'm happy Damon Daunno got nominated. Ditto on Tony Yazbeck.
  • Jack O'Brien, really? Really?
  • I am so so so so happy they're honoring Sean Carvajal and Edi Gathegi with a special award. They did extraordinary work in extraordinary circumstances.
  • Juan Castano, huh? Look, I don't want to say this is an embarrassing pick (considering Brandon Gill did much much much better work in numerous shows this year, in both a play and musical) but this is an embarrassing pick. He barely registered in a show nobody liked or remembered (A Parallelogram), Oedipus el Rey was one of the worst things of the season, and who the hell cares about Transfers? New York theater works this way: shows have short runs, so it's possible for you to be cast in a few things a season. That doesn't mean you deserve an award.

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